Trap cropping

Trap cropping is the planting of a trap crop to protect the main cash crop from a certain pest or several pests. The trap crop can be from the same or different family group, than that of the main crop, as long as it is more attractive to the pest. There are two types of planting the trap crops; perimeter trap cropping and row intercropping. Perimeter trap cropping (border trap cropping) is the planting of trap crop completely surrounding the main cash crop. It prevents a pest attack that comes from all sides of the field. It works best on pests that are found near the borderline of the farm. Row intercropping is the planting of the trap crop in alternating rows within the main crop.

Advantages of trap cropping

1.      Lessens the use of pesticide

2.      Lowers the pesticide cost

3.      Preserves the indigenous natural enemies

4.      Improves the crop's quality

5.      Helps conserve the soil and the environment



Table 1. Examples of trap cropping practices

Trap crop

Main crop

Method of planting

Pest controlled

Alfalfa
(Meyer, 2003)

Cotton

Strip intercrop

Lygus bug

Basil and marigold
(MMSU, 2003)

Garlic

Border crops

Thrips

Castor plant
(Hasse, 1986; 1987)

Cotton

Border crop

Heliotis sp.

Chervil
(Ellis; Bradley, 1996)

Vegetables
Ornamentals

Among plants

Slugs

Chinese cabbage,
mustard, and radish
(Facknath, 1997; Muniappan; Lali, 1997)

Cabbage

Planted in every 15 rows of cabbage

Cabbage webworm
Flea hopper
Mustard aphid

Beans and other legumes

Corn

Row intercrop

Leafhopper
Leaf beetles 
Stalk borer
Fall armyworm

Chick pea
(Grundy; Short, 2003)

Cotton

Block trap crop at 
20 plants/ sq m (Brown, 2002)

Heliotis sp.

Collards
(Boucher; Durgy, 2003)

Cabbage

Border crop

Diamondback moth

Corn
(Hasse, 1986; 1987)

Cotton

Row intercrop, planted in 
every 20 rows of cotton
or every 10-15 m

Heliotis sp. 

Cowpea 
(CIKS, 2000)

Cotton

Row intercrop in every
5 rows of cotton

Heliotis sp. 

Desmodium
(ICIPE, 2003)

Corn
Cowpea
Millet
Sorghum

Row intercrop

Stemborer
Striga

Dill and lovage
(Ellis; Bradley, 1996)

Tomato

Row intercrop

Tomato hornworm

Green beans
(Ellis; Bradley, 1996)

Soybean

Row intercrop

Mexican bean beetle

Horse radish
(DA, Philippines, 1997)

Potato

Intercrop

Colorado potato beetle

Hot cherry pepper
(Boucher; Durgy, 2003)

Bell pepper

Border crop

Pepper maggot

Indian mustard
(Cornell University, 1995)

Cabbage

Strip intercrop in 
between cabbage plots

Cabbage head caterpillar

Marigold 
(French and African marigold)
(Vann; Kirkpatrick; Cartwright, 2004)
(Dofour; Guerena; Earles, 2003)

Solanaceous
Crucifers
Legumes 
Cucurbits

Row/strip intercrop

Nematodes

Medic, Medicago litoralis
(Miles, C.; et al., 1996)

Carrot

Strip intercrop in between
carrot plots

Carrot root fly

Napier grass
(ICIPE, 2003)

Corn

Intercrop
Border crop

Stemborer

Nasturtium
(Ellis; Bradley, 1996)

Cabbage

Row intercrop

Aphids
Flea beetle
Cucumber beetle
Squash vine borer

Okra
(Hasse, 1986; 1987)

Cotton

Border crop

Flower cotton weevil

Onion and garlic

Carrot

Border crops or barrier 
crops in between plots

Carrot root fly
Thrips

Radish
(Ellis; Bradley, 1996)

Cabbage family

Row intercrop

Flea beetle
Root maggot

Rye
(OIKOS, 2003)

Soybean

Row intercrop

Corn seedling maggot

Sesbania
(Naito, 2001)

Soybean

Row intercrop at a distance
of 15 m apart

Stink bug

Sickle pod
(OIKOS, 2003)

Soybean

Strip intercrop

Velvet bean caterpillar 
Green stink bug

Soybean

Corn

Row intercrop

Heliotis sp.  

Sudan grass
(ICIPE, 2003)

Corn

Intercrop
Border crop

Stemborer

Sunflower
(CIKS, 2000)

Cotton

Row intercrop in every 
5 rows of cotton

Heliotis sp.  

Tansy
(DA, Philippines, 1997)

Potato

Intercrop

Colorado potato beetle

Tobacco
(Hasse, 1986; 1987)

Cotton

Row intercrop, planted in
every 20 rows of cotton

Heliotis sp.  

Tomato 
(Makumbi, 1996)

Cabbage

Intercrop (Tomato is planted 
2 weeks ahead at the plots' borders)

Diamondback moth

Vertiver grass
(van de Berg, Undated)

Corn

Perimeter crop

Corn stalk borer 

Tips for successful trap cropping

·         Make a farm plan. This will guide you on where the trap crops are to be sown or planted.

·         Learn to know and identify the pests.

·         Select a trap crop that is more attractive to the pest than the main crop. Ask for assistance from your local agriculturist.

·         Monitor your plants regularly.

·         Immediately control the pests that are found in the trap crop. Prune or remove the trap crops once the pest population is high, otherwise they will serve as the breeding ground and the pests will attack the rest of your farm.

·         Be ready to sacrifice your trap crop as an early crop and destroy them once pest infestation is high.

·         Always keep farm records.